I dey call on You, O my God, my mercy, You wey create me and no forget me, even as I forget You. I dey invite You enter my soul, wey You dey prepare for Yourself through the longing wey You Yourself put inside am. No abandon me now wey I dey call on You. Before I call, You don first come meet me; You call me again and again in many different ways, dey urge me make I hear You from far, turn back to You, and call on You wey dey call after me. Because You, Lord, wipe away all the punishment wey my evil deserve, so that You no go pay me back for the things wey make me fall away from You. And before any good wey I do fit deserve reward, You don first work, so that na the work of Your own hands, wey You take make me, You go reward. Because before I exist, You don dey; and I no be anything wey You fit grant existence. Yet see, I dey exist, because of Your goodness wey come before all this wey You make me to be, and all wey You take make me. Because You no need me, and I no be any good thing wey fit add anything to You, my Lord and God. I no dey serve You as if work fit tire You, or as if Your power go reduce if I no serve You. I no dey tend Your service like farmland wey go remain uncultivated unless I cultivate You. Instead, I dey serve and worship You so that I fit receive good life from You, because na from You I receive this existence wey fit enjoy good life.
Because na from the fullness of Your goodness everything wey You create dey continue to exist, so that one good thing wey no fit benefit You in any way, and wey no be part of You (so that e no go equal You), fit still exist, since You fit create am. Because wetin heaven and earth, wey You make in the Beginning, do to deserve anything from You? Make those spiritual and bodily beings wey You make in Your Wisdom talk wetin dem do to deserve to depend on that Wisdom—even for their different states when dem never complete and never get form, whether spiritual or bodily, ready to fall away enter freedom wey no get limit, and become very far from resembling You. The spiritual one, even without form, pass the bodily one wey get form; and the bodily one, even without form, better pass if e no exist at all. Wetin dem do to deserve to depend on Your Word like this, without form, unless that same Word bring dem back to Your Unity, give dem form, and make all of dem very good through You, the One Supreme Good? Wetin dem do to deserve from You even to exist without form, since dem no go even be this much if no be from You?
Wetin bodily matter do to deserve from You even to dey invisible and without form? Because e no go even be this much if You no make am; and because e never exist, e no fit do anything to deserve make You create am. Or wetin the spiritual creature wey never complete fit do to deserve from You even to dey move back and forth inside darkness like the deep, without resembling You—unless that same Word turn am towards the One wey create am, and He give am light so that e become light? E no go equal that Form wey equal You, but e go resemble that Form. Because, for body, to exist no be the same thing as to dey beautiful; if not, body no go fit lose im beauty. Na so too, for spirit wey You create, to live no be the same thing as to live with wisdom; if not, im wisdom no go ever fit change. But e good make e always hold You tight, so that e no go turn away from You, lose the light wey e receive when e turn to You, and fall back into life wey resemble the dark deep. Because we ourselves too, wey be spiritual creatures as far as our souls concern, turn away from You, our light, and for that life, we ourselves once be darkness. And we still dey struggle among the darkness wey remain inside us, until, inside Your Only One, we become Your righteousness, like the mountains of God. Because we don be Your judgments, wey be like the great deep.
That thing wey You talk for the beginning of creation, Make light dey, and light come dey, I understand am as something wey concern the spiritual creature, and this understanding no dey out of place: because one kind of life don already dey, wey You fit give light. But just as e no get any right to demand from You life wey fit receive light, na so too, now wey e don exist, e no get any right to demand make You give am light. Because im state without form no fit please You unless e become light; and no be just by existing e go become light, but by looking upon the light wey dey give light, and holding that light tight. So, for the fact say e dey live, and dey live happily, e owe everything to Your grace alone, as e turn through one change for the better towards That wey no fit change to become worse or better. Na You alone be That, because na You alone just dey, without change. For You, to live no be one thing and to live in blessedness another thing, because You Yourself na Your own Blessedness.
So wetin for fit lack for Your goodness, wey be You Yourself, even if all these things no ever exist, or dem remain without form? You no make dem because anything dey lack for You, but because Your goodness full well-well; You hold dem in check and give dem form, no be as if na dem make Your joy complete. Because You perfect, their imperfection no please You; na why You make dem perfect, and dem please You. No be say You no perfect before, and as You make dem perfect, You too go become perfect. Because Your good Spirit truly dey move above the waters; no be the waters dey carry Am, as if He dey rest on top dem. Because those wey dem talk say Your good Spirit dey rest upon, na Him dey make dem rest inside Himself. But Your will, wey no fit decay or change, and wey get everything wey e need inside itself, dey move above that life wey You create. For that life, to dey alive no be the same thing as to dey live happily, because e still dey live as e dey go back and forth inside im own darkness. Wetin remain for am na to turn to the One wey make am, to dey live more and more from the fountain of life, to see light inside His light, and to become perfect, full of light and beautiful.
See, now I dey see the Trinity, wey be You, my God, like image for mirror wey no clear. Because na You, O Father, create heaven and earth inside the One wey be the Beginning of our wisdom, wey be Your Wisdom, wey You beget, wey equal to You and dey with You from all eternity—that na inside Your Son. We don now talk plenty about the Heaven of heavens, and about the earth wey eye no fit see and wey no get form, and about the deep wey darkness cover. We talk about how im spirit-life, wey never get proper form, for dey wander without stability, unless e turn to the One wey give am the level of life wey e get then, and through His light become beautiful life, and the heaven of that heaven wey dem later put between water and water. And by the name God, I now understand the Father wey make these things; and by the name Beginning, the Son, inside whom He make these things. And as I believe say my God na the Trinity, I search further inside His holy words, and see, Your Spirit dey move above the waters. See the Trinity, my God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Creator of everything wey dem create.
But wetin be the reason, O Light wey dey talk truth?—Na to You I lift my heart; no let my heart teach me things wey no get value; drive im darkness away. And tell me, I beg You, through love wey be our mama, tell me the reason, I beg You: why be say after Your Scripture mention heaven, and the earth wey eye no fit see and wey no get form, and darkness upon the deep, na then e finally mention Your Spirit? Na because e proper to make us know Am as the One wey dey “move above”; and dem no fit talk this unless dem first mention wetin Your Spirit dey move above? Because He no dey move above the Father or the Son; and dem no fit rightly talk say He dey move above, if nothing dey under Am. So dem first need to talk about wetin He fit dey move above; then dem go talk about Him, wey e proper to describe only as the One wey dey move above. But why e no proper to make us know Am in any other way apart from as the One wey dey move above?
So make anybody wey fit understand follow Your Apostle as he talk like this: Because Your love don pour full our hearts through the Holy Spirit wey You give us. Make the person follow am too where, as he dey talk about spiritual gifts, he teach us and show us the way of love wey better pass all; and where he kneel before You for us, so that we fit know the love of Christ wey pass all knowledge. And na why, from the beginning, He dey move far above the waters. Na who I go tell this thing? How I go talk about the weight of evil desires, wey dey pull person down into the steep, bottomless pit; and how love dey raise us up again through Your Spirit wey dey move above the waters? Na who I go tell am? How I go talk am? Because no be inside physical space we dey sink and rise again. Wetin fit resemble this one more, and yet still different from am so much? Na the things wey our hearts dey drawn to; na the things we love. Na the uncleanness of our spirit dey flow go down because of love for worries, while the holiness of Your Spirit dey raise us up through love for rest wey no get worry; so that we fit lift our hearts to You, where Your Spirit dey move above the waters, and reach that rest wey high pass all, when our soul don pass through the waters wey no fit hold am up.
Angels turn away from You, human soul turn away from You too, and so dem show the bottomless pit for that dark depth, wey dey ready for all the spiritual creatures, if no be say from the beginning You talk say, Make light dey, and light come dey, and every spirit wey get understanding and obey You for Your heavenly City hold You tight, and rest for Your Spirit, Who dey above everything wey fit change, while He Himself no dey change. If no be so, even the heaven of heavens for be dark bottomless depth on im own; but now e be light for the Lord. Even for that miserable restlessness of the spirits wey turn away and discover their own darkness, when dem no get Your light to wear again, You show clearly how noble You make the creature wey fit reason. Nothing wey no reach You fit give that creature happy rest; so even the creature imself no fit give imself that rest. Because You, O our God, go bring light into our darkness: na from You the light wey we wear dey come; then our darkness go be like midday. Give me Yourself, O my God, give me Yourself again: see, I love You, and if the love too small, I want love You more strongly. I no fit measure am to know how much love I still lack before my life fit run enter Your embrace and no turn away, until e hide for the secret place of Your Presence. Na only this one I know: wahala dey for me unless I dey in You, no be only outside myself, but inside myself too; and all the plenty things wey no be my God na emptiness for me.
But the Father or the Son no dey above the waters too? If this one mean to dey one physical place like body, then even the Holy Spirit no dey above the waters that way; but if e mean the unchanging greatness of God wey far pass everything wey fit change, then the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit all dey above the waters. Why then na only about Your Spirit dem talk this thing, why na only about Him? As if dem mean say He dey one particular place, when no place fit contain Him, and na only about Him dem write say He na Your Gift? Na inside Your Gift we dey rest; na there we dey enjoy You. Our rest na our place. Love dey lift us go up there, and Your good Spirit dey lift us from our low condition, comot from the gates of death. Na for wetin please You our peace dey. Body dey use im own weight move towards im own place. Weight no dey carry thing go down only, but e dey carry am go im own place. Fire dey go up, stone dey go down. Na their own weight dey push dem, and dem dey find their own places. Oil wey dem pour under water dey rise above the water; water wey dem pour on top oil dey sink under the oil. Na their own weight dey push dem to find their own places. When dem no dey where dem suppose dey, dem no get rest; when dem return to their proper place, dem dey rest. My weight na my love; na im dey carry me go anywhere wey I dey go. Fire dey burn for us; na Your Gift dey set us on fire and carry us go up; we dey glow inside, and we dey move forward. We dey climb Your ways wey dey our heart, and we dey sing song of climbing; Your fire, Your good fire, dey make us glow inside, and we dey go; because we dey go up to the peace of Jerusalem: because I glad with the people wey tell me say, We go go up to the house of the Lord. Na there Your good pleasure don place us, so that we no go desire any other thing except to remain there forever.
Blessed na that creature wey no be You, but wey no don ever know any other condition apart from this: as soon as You make am, without any delay, Your Gift, Who dey above everything wey fit change, lift am high through that call wey You make when You talk say, Make light dey, and light come dey. But for us, these things happen for different times, because we bin be darkness, and You don make us light. But about that creature, na only wetin e for be if light no shine on am dem talk. And dem talk am as if e bin no get rest and e bin dey dark before, so that the reason wey make am different go show clear: that na because e turn to the Light wey no dey ever fail, e come become light. Anybody wey fit understand this, make e understand; make e ask You. Why e go disturb me, as if I fit give light to anybody wey come into this world?
Who among us fit understand the Almighty Trinity? And yet, who no dey talk about the Trinity, if na really the Trinity dem dey talk about? Soul wey sabi wetin e dey talk about as e dey speak about the Trinity no common. Dem dey argue and struggle, but without peace, nobody fit see that vision. I wish say people go consider these three things wey dey inside dem. These three things really different well-well from the Trinity: I only dey point out where dem fit practise, so that for there dem fit test and feel how far dem don reach. Now, the three things wey I talk about na, to Dey Exist, to Sabi, and to Want. Because I dey Exist, I Sabi, and I Want: I dey Exist as person wey Sabi and wey Want: and I Sabi say I dey Exist and say I Want: and I Want to Exist and to Sabi. So, for these three things, make anybody wey fit understand see how the life wey dey there no fit separate—yes, na one life, one mind, and one essence—and finally, how the difference wey dey among dem no fit separate, even though difference still dey. Surely, person get all this right before am; make e look inside imself, see am, and tell me. But when e discover these things and fit talk anything about dem, make e no think because of that say e don find the One wey pass all these, the One wey no dey change, wey dey Exist without change, wey Sabi without change, and wey Want without change; or say e don understand whether na because of these three things Trinity dey in God too, or whether all three dey in Each Person, so that the three belong to Each Person; or whether na both ways at once, in wonderful way, in simple way and yet in many ways, the Trinity being boundary for Himself inside Himself, yet without boundary; and through this, E dey Exist, E Sabi Himself, and E dey enough for Himself, remaining the Same without change, through the overflowing greatness of His Oneness—who fit easily understand this? Who fit express am in any way? Who go rush talk about am anyhow?
Continue with your confession, tell the Lord wey be your God, O faith wey I get: Holy, Holy, Holy, O Lord my God, na for Your Name dem baptise us, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; na for Your Name we dey baptise, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, because among us too, na in His Christ God make heaven and earth, that is, the spiritual people and the people wey dey follow flesh for His Church. Yes, and our earth, before e receive the shape wey teaching give am, na wetin eye no fit see and e no get shape; and the darkness of ignorance cover us. Because You discipline man because of im wickedness, and Your judgments be like mighty deep water for am. But because Your Spirit dey move above the waters, Your mercy no abandon us for our misery, and You talk say, Make light dey, Turn from sin come back to God, because the kingdom of heaven don near. Turn from sin come back to God, make light dey. And because our soul dey troubled inside us, we remember You, O Lord, from the land of Jordan, and from that mountain wey equal You, but wey small for our sake: and our darkness no please us, we turn come meet You, and light come dey. And see, we bin be darkness before, but now we be light in the Lord.
But for now, na by faith, no be by wetin we dey see, because na by hope we don get salvation; but hope wey person don see no be hope again. For now, deep water still dey call deep water, but now na with the sound of Your water wey dey pour down. For now, the person wey talk say, I no fit talk to una as people wey dey live by the Spirit, but as people wey dey live by the flesh, even that person still no think say e don reach the goal. E dey forget the things wey dey behind, e dey stretch go meet the things wey dey ahead, and e dey groan under heavy load. E soul dey thirst for the Living God, as deer dey thirst for streams of water, and e dey talk say, When I go come? E dey long to wear the house wey come from heaven like cloth, and e dey call this deep water wey dey below, dey talk say, Make una no follow the pattern of this world, but make una change through the renewal of una mind. And, make una no be children for understanding, but for wickedness, make una be children, so that una understanding go complete; and O foolish Galatians, who don bewitch una? But now, no be with e own voice again, but with Your own voice, You wey send Your Spirit from above; through Him wey ascend go high above, and open the flood-gates of His gifts, so that the power of His streams go make the city of God glad. Na Him this friend of the Bridegroom dey sigh for. E don already get the first fruits of the Spirit wey dey kept with Him, but e still dey groan inside e heart, dey wait for God to adopt am as pikin, that is, the redemption of e body. Na to Him e dey sigh, as member of the Bride; na for Him e dey jealous, as friend of the Bridegroom; na for Him e dey jealous, no be for e own self. Because na with the sound of Your water wey dey pour down, no be with e own voice, e dey call that other deep water. E dey jealous over them and e dey fear say, just as the snake use e cunning deceive Eve, their minds too fit turn away from the purity wey dey in our Bridegroom, Your only Son. O, how beautiful that light go be, when we go see Him as He be, and those tears go don pass away, those tears wey don be my food day and night, as dem dey ask me every day, Where your God dey now?
See, me too dey talk say, O my God, where You dey? See where You dey! Na inside You I dey get small breath, when I dey alone pour out my soul with voice of joy and praise, like the sound of person wey dey celebrate holy feast. But again, my soul dey sad, because e dey fall back, and become deep water, or rather, e come see say e still be deep water. My faith, wey You don light to give my feet light for night, dey tell my soul say, Why you dey sad, O my soul, and why you dey trouble me? Put your hope for the Lord; His word na lamp for your feet: get hope and endure, until the night, wey be mama of wicked people, don pass, until the anger of the Lord don pass. We too bin once be children of that anger, we wey bin be darkness before. We still dey carry wetin remain of that darkness for our body, wey dey dead because of sin; until day break, and the shadows disappear. Put your hope for the Lord; for morning I go stand for Your presence, and fix my eyes on You: I go confess to You forever. For morning I go stand for Your presence, and I go see the One wey dey bring healing to my face, my God, wey go also give life to our bodies wey fit die, through the Spirit wey dey live inside us, because in His mercy, He don move over the dark deep water wey dey move up and down inside us. Na from Him we don receive a pledge for this our pilgrimage, so that we go now be light: as na by hope we don get salvation, and we be children of light, and children of day, no be children of night or darkness, even though na darkness we bin be before. For this human knowledge wey no certain, na only You dey separate them from us; You wey dey test our hearts, and dey call light day, and darkness night. Because who dey tell the difference between us, if no be You? And wetin we get wey no be from You we receive am? Na from the same lump of clay dem dey make vessels for honour, and from that same lump dem dey also make other vessels for dishonour.
Or who, apart from You, our God, make that sky of authority wey stand firm over us for Your Holy Scripture? As dem talk am, Dem go fold heaven like scroll; and now You don stretch am over us like animal skin. For Your Holy Scripture get even greater authority, since those people wey fit die, wey You use give us the Scripture, don die. And You know, Lord, You know how You take use animal skin cover people when sin make dem become people wey fit die. Na so You don stretch out the sky of Your book like animal skin, that is, Your words wey agree together, wey You spread over us through the ministry of people wey fit die. For na through their very death that strong sky of authority, inside Your words wey dem proclaim, spread even more over everybody wey dey under am; e no spread reach like that when dem still dey live here. You never spread heaven like animal skin then; You never make the glory of their deaths spread for every direction.
Make we look, O Lord, at the heavens, the work of Your fingers; clear that cloud wey You spread under dem comot from our eyes. Na there Your testimony dey, wey dey give wisdom to little ones: O my God, make Your praise perfect from the mouth of babies and children wey still dey suck breast. For we no know any other books wey dey destroy pride like this, wey dey destroy the enemy and the person wey dey defend im own sins and so dey resist the reconciliation wey You offer. I no know, Lord, I no know any other words wey pure like this, wey dey persuade me like this to confess my sins, make my neck ready to bend under Your yoke, and invite me to serve You without looking for any reward. Make I understand dem, good Father: grant this to me, wey dey under dem, because na for the people wey dey under dem You establish dem.
Other waters dey above this sky wey stand firm; I believe say dem no fit die, and dem dey separate from the decay of this earth. Make dem praise Your Name, make dem praise You, the people wey dey above the heavens, Your angels, wey no need to look up at this sky wey stand firm, or to read before dem go know about Your Word. For dem dey always see Your face, and na there dem dey read, without any syllables wey take time to speak, wetin Your eternal will want; dem dey read, dem dey choose, dem dey love. Dem dey read always; and wetin dem dey read no dey ever pass away; for as dem dey choose and love, dem dey read how Your plan no fit ever change. Dem no dey ever close their book or fold their scroll, because na You Yourself be this book for dem, and You be am for all eternity; because You don place dem above this sky wey stand firm, wey You don set firmly over the weakness of the people wey dey below, so dem fit look up and learn Your mercy, as e dey proclaim inside time who You be, You wey make time. For Your mercy, O Lord, dey for the heavens, and Your truth reach the clouds. The clouds dey pass away, but heaven dey remain. The people wey dey preach Your word dey leave this life enter another one; but Your Scripture dey spread over the people, even reach the end of the world. Yet heaven and earth too go pass away, but Your words no go pass away. Because dem go roll the scroll together; and the grass wey e spread over go pass away together with all im beauty; but Your Word dey remain for ever. Na this Word dey appear to us now under the dim image of the clouds and through the mirror of the heavens, no be as E really be; because even though we too be the people wey Your Son love well-well, wetin we go be never show yet. E dey look through the openings of our flesh, and E speak to us with tenderness, and set our hearts on fire, and we run follow the fragrance wey come from Am. But when E go appear, then we go be like Am, because we go see Am as E be. Lord, na as E be we go see Am.
For na only You know Yourself fully as You be; You wey dey exist without any change, wey dey know without any change, and wey dey will without any change. And Your very Being dey know and dey will without any change; and Your Knowledge dey exist and dey will without any change; and Your Will dey exist and dey know without any change. And e no seem right for Your eyes say the thing wey receive light and wey fit change go know the Light wey no fit change the same way that Light know Itself. Na why my soul be like land wey no get water, because just as e no fit give itself light by im own power, na so e no fit satisfy itself by im own power. For na with You the fountain of life dey, just as na inside Your light we go see light.
Na who gather people wey bitterness don fill their heart make dem become one community? Because all of dem get one aim: happiness for this earth wey go last only for some time. Na to get this happiness dem dey do everything, even though worries wey nobody fit count dey carry dem up and down. Lord, na who if no be You talk say, Make the waters gather together for one place, and make dry land, wey dey thirst for You, appear? Because the sea too na Your own, and na You make am, and na Your hands prepare the dry land. No be the bitterness inside people will dem dey call sea, but na the waters wey gather together; because You dey hold back the wicked desires inside people soul, and You dey set boundaries for dem, to show how far dem fit go, so that their waves fit crash against one another: and na so You dey make am sea, through the order of Your rule over everything.
But the souls wey dey thirst for You, and wey appear before You (wey other boundaries don separate from the community of the sea), na dem You dey water with sweet water from a spring, so that the earth fit produce im fruit, and, as You, Lord God, command am so, works of mercy fit sprout from our soul according to their kind. Na so we dey love our neighbour as we help am with the things wey im body need, with seed inside itself according to im own likeness, when the way we feel our own weakness make us get compassion wey move us to help people wey dey in need; we dey help dem the way we go want make dem help us if we dey that same kind need. No be only for things wey easy, like plant wey dey produce seed, but also as we use all our strength help and protect dem, like tree wey dey produce fruit: that na, to do good by rescuing person wey dem dey treat unjustly from the hand of powerful people, and to give am shelter and protection through the mighty strength of just judgment.
Na so, O Onyenwe anyị, na so, I dey beg You: as You dey work, as You dey give gladness and ability, make truth spring out from the earth, make righteousness look down from heaven, and make lights dey for the open space of the sky. Make we share our bread with people wey dey hungry, and bring poor people wey no get house enter our house. Make we give clothes to people wey naked, and make we no despise people wey be our own flesh and blood. When these fruits don spring out from the earth, see say e good; and make our light for this passing life shine out. As we dey move from this lower level of action wey dey bear fruit reach the joy of deep reflection on You, and receive the Word of Life from above, make we appear like lights for the world, as we hold tight to Your Scripture wey be like the open space of the sky. For na there You dey teach us to separate things wey mind fit understand from things wey our bodily senses fit know, just as day separate from night; or to separate souls wey give themselves to things of the mind from souls wey give themselves to things of the bodily senses. So now, no be only You go separate light from darkness inside the secret of Your judgment, as You do before You make the open space of the sky. Your spiritual children too, wey You don place and arrange inside that same open space of the sky, fit give light for the earth, now wey Your grace don show openly throughout the world. Dem fit separate day from night, and serve as signs of the times: say old things don pass away, and see, all things don become new; say our salvation don near us pass when we first believe; say night don almost finish and day don near; and say You go crown Your year with blessing, as You send workers wey carry Your goodness go gather Your harvest, wey other people don labour to plant. You dey also send workers go another field, wey dem go gather im harvest for the end. Na so You dey answer the prayers of person wey ask, and bless the years of righteous people. But You remain the same, and inside Your years wey no dey end, You dey prepare storehouse for our years wey dey pass away. For by Your eternal plan, You dey give heavenly blessings to the earth for their proper seasons. For the Spirit dey give one person word of wisdom, like the smaller light; another person, faith; another person, the gift wey get the light of truth wey clear well-well, like wetin go rule the day. The same Spirit dey give another person word of knowledge, like the smaller light; another person, faith; another person, gift of healing; another person, power to work miracles; another person, prophecy; another person, ability to discern spirits; another person, different kinds of tongues. And all these be like stars. For na one and the same Spirit dey do all these things, dey share to each person im own as E will, and dey make stars show clearly so that dem go benefit everybody. But the word of knowledge, wey contain all the Sacraments, wey dey vary for their seasons like the moon, and those other gifts wey dem mention one by one like stars, na only to rule the night. Na because dem no reach that brightness of wisdom wey dey bring joy to the day wey we don mention before. For dem dey necessary for people wey that Your servant wey get great sound judgment no fit speak to as spiritual people, but as people wey still dey follow the flesh—even that servant wey dey speak wisdom among people wey don mature. But make the natural person, wey be like small pikin for Christ and wey dem dey feed with milk, no stay for night wey no get any light at all. Until e get strength for solid food and im eye fit look the Sun, make e content with the light of the moon and the stars. Na so You dey speak to us, our God wey get all wisdom, inside Your Book, wey be Your open space of the sky; so that through wonderful deep reflection, we fit discern all things, even though for now na still through signs and times, and days and years.
But first, make una wash unaself, make una clean; remove evil from una souls and from My front, so that dry land fit appear. Learn to do good, give children wey no get papa justice, stand up for widow, so that the earth fit bring out green plants for food and trees wey dey bear fruit; and come, make we reason together, na so the Lord talk, so that lights fit dey for the sky of heaven, and make dem shine for the earth. That rich man ask the good Master wetin e suppose do to get eternal life. Make the good Master tell am (the man think say na only ordinary human being He be; but He good because na God He be), make He tell am say, if e wan enter life, e must keep the commandments: make e remove the bitterness of bad mind and wickedness from imself; make e no kill, no commit adultery, no thief, no give false witness; so that dry land fit appear, and bring out honour for papa and mama, and love for our neighbour. I don keep all these things, na so e talk. Then where all these thorns come from, if the land dey bear fruit? Go, uproot the thick bushes of greed wey dey spread; sell wetin you get, and make you full with fruit as you give to poor people, and you go get treasure for heaven; and follow the Lord if you wan dey perfect, join those people wey He dey speak wisdom among dem. Na He know wetin to give the day and wetin to give the night, so that you too fit know am, and lights fit dey for you for the sky of heaven; but this one no go happen unless your heart dey there: and your heart no go dey there unless your treasure dey there, as you don hear from the good Master. But that land wey no dey bear fruit come sad; and the thorns choke the word.
But una, generation wey God choose, una wey be the weak things of the world, wey don leave everything so that una fit follow the Lord; follow Am, and put the mighty to shame; follow Am, una beautiful feet, and shine for the sky, so that the heavens fit declare His glory, as una separate the light of those wey dey perfect, even though dem no be like angels, from the darkness of the little ones, even though nobody despise dem. Shine over the earth; and make the day wey sun give light speak words of wisdom to another day; and make the night wey moon dey shine for show words of knowledge to another night. The moon and stars dey shine for the night; still, the night no dey hide their light, because dem dey give am light according to the measure wey fit am. For see God as if He dey talk say, Make lights dey for the sky of heaven; suddenly, one sound come from heaven, like strong wind wey dey rush, and tongues wey divide, like fire, appear, and e rest on each one of dem. And lights come dey for the sky of heaven, wey get the word of life. Run go here and there for everywhere, una holy fires, una beautiful fires; because na una be the light of the world, and dem no put una under basket wey dem dey use measure grain; the One wey una hold on to dey exalted, and He don exalt una. Run go here and there, and make all nations know una.
Make the sea too carry belle and bring out una works; and make the waters bring out creatures wey get life and dey move. Because una, wey dey separate wetin precious from wetin worthless, don become the mouth of God, wey He dey use talk say, Make the waters bring out, no be the living creatures wey the earth dey bring out, but creatures wey get life and dey move, and birds wey dey fly above the earth. Because Your Sacraments, O God, through the ministry of Your holy ones, don move among the waves of the temptations of the world, to make the Gentiles holy for Your Name, for Your Baptism. And among these things, plenty great wonders happen, like great whales: and the voices of Your messengers dey fly above the earth, for the open sky of Your Book; that Book dey above dem as the authority wey dem suppose fly under, anywhere dem go. Because no speech or language dey where dem no hear their voice: their sound don reach everywhere for the earth, and their words don reach the end of the world, because You, Lord, make dem plenty through Your blessing.
I dey talk wetin no true, abi I dey mix things up and scatter their meaning, without separating the clear knowledge of these things for the sky of heaven from the works wey involve matter for the sea wey waves dey move, and under the sky of heaven? Because those things wey their knowledge get substance and clear boundary, and wey no dey increase through birth, be like lights of wisdom and knowledge; yet even for them, the works wey involve matter plenty and get different kinds. And as one thing dey grow out of another, dem dey multiply through Your blessing, O God. Na You don bring fresh strength to our mortal senses wey don tire, so that one thing wey our mind understand fit, through the movements of the body, come out and show itself for many different ways. Na the waters don bring these Sacraments come forth; but na inside Your word. Na the needs of the people wey don turn away from the eternity of Your truth bring them come forth, but na inside Your Gospel; because na the waters themselves bring them out, and na the sickly bitterness of those waters cause why You send them forth inside Your Word.
Now, everything wey You don make fine; but see, You Yourself wey make everything fine pass wetin mouth fit talk. If Adam no fall comot from You, the salty bitterness of the sea no for flow out of am: that is, the human race wey curiosity enter deep, wey dey swell like storm, and wey dey tumble up and down without rest. Then, no need for dey for Your servants wey dey share Your gifts to work inside many waters, with actions and words wey carry mystery, through things wey body and senses fit notice. Because na wetin those creatures wey dey move and fly now seem to mean to me: through them, people dey enter the faith and dem dey consecrate them through Sacraments wey use bodily signs. But those people no go make further progress unless their soul get spiritual life, and unless, after the word wey admit them, their soul look ahead towards perfection.
And through this, inside Your Word, no be the depth of the sea, but na the earth wey You separate from the bitterness of the waters dey bring forth, no be the creature wey dey move and get life, but the living soul. Because now, the soul no need baptism again as people wey no know You need am, and as the soul itself need am before, when the waters cover am; (because no other entrance dey into the kingdom of heaven, since na this You don appoint as the entrance). The soul no dey look for the amazement of miracles to make am believe either; because now e no be the kind wey no go believe unless e see signs and wonders, since the earth wey get faith don separate from the waters wey unbelief make bitter. And tongues na sign, no be for people wey believe, but for people wey no believe. So that earth wey You don set upon the waters no need those flying creatures wey the waters bring forth at Your word either. Send Your word enter am through Your messengers: because even though we dey talk about their work, na You dey work inside them, so that through their work, dem fit bring about a living soul inside am. The earth dey bring the living soul forth, because na the earth be the reason why dem dey do this work inside the soul; just as na the sea be the reason why dem work upon the creatures wey dey move and get life, and the birds wey dey fly under the sky of heaven. The earth no need them, even though e dey feed on that fish wey dem take out of the deep, for that table wey You don prepare in the presence of people wey believe. Because na for this reason dem take Am out of the deep, so that E fit feed the dry land; and the bird, even though e come from the sea, still dey multiply upon the earth. Because na human unbelief cause the first preaching of the Evangelists; yet through their preaching, the faithful too dey receive encouragement and blessing for many ways, day by day. But the living soul dey begin from the earth: because to hold themselves back from love of this world dey benefit only those wey don already join the Faithful, so that their soul fit live for You—that soul wey be dead while e dey live inside pleasures. Na pleasures wey dey bring death, Lord; because na You, Lord, be the delight wey dey give life to the pure heart.
Now then, make Your ministers work for the earth,—no be as dem dey work for the waters of lack of faith, through preaching and speaking through miracles, Sacraments and words wey carry hidden mysteries; for there, people wey no know, and wey their lack of knowledge dey make dem wonder, fit give dem full attention because of the reverence wey dem get for those hidden signs. Na so Adam children wey don forget You dey enter the Faith, as dem dey hide from Your face and turn to deep water wey darkness cover. But—make Your ministers now work as if na for dry land, wey dey separate from the water wey dey turn round and round for the great deep: and make dem be example for the faithful, through the life wey dem dey live before dem, and through how dem dey encourage dem to follow their example. Na so people dey hear, no be only to hear, but to do wetin dem hear too. Seek the Lord, and una soul go live, so that the earth fit bring out soul wey dey alive. Make una no follow the ways of the world. Hold una body back from am: the soul dey live by avoiding the things wey dey kill am when e love dem. Hold una body back from pride wey dey run wild without control, from the lazy enjoyment of pleasure wey luxury dey bring, and from wetin dem dey falsely call knowledge: so that wild animals fit become tame, cattle fit learn to carry yoke, and snakes fit no cause harm. For na the movements of our mind these things dey represent; that is, pride wey dey raise shoulder, the pleasure of lust, and the poison of curiosity na movements of soul wey don die. For when the soul die, no be say e no fit move at all again; na because e abandon the fountain wey life dey come from e take die, and so this world wey dey pass away take over am, and e follow the ways of the world.
But Your word, O God, na the fountain wey eternal life dey come from; and e no dey pass away: na why Your word dey hold the soul back from this turning away, when dem tell us say, Make una no follow the ways of this world; so that the earth fit, through the fountain of life, bring out soul wey dey alive; that is, soul wey Your Evangelists don teach to control imself through Your Word, by following the people wey dey follow Your Christ. For na so e dey follow im own kind; because person dey normally follow im friend example. Make una be as I be (na so e talk), because I too be as una be. So, for this soul wey dey alive, good wild animals go dey, wey dey act with gentleness (because You don command say, Do your work with gentleness, and everybody go love you); and good cattle go dey, wey no go get too much if dem chop, and no go lack anything if dem no chop; and good snakes go dey, wey no dangerous to cause harm, but wey wise to take care; and wey dey search into the nature of this world wey dey pass away only as far as e go help dem see eternity clear, as dem dey understand am through the things wey You don make. For these creatures dey obey reason when dem no get chance to overpower us and bring death; then dem dey live, and dem dey good.
For see, O Lord, our God, our Creator, when You don hold the desires of our heart back from love of the world, wey make us die through bad living; and we don begin be soul wey dey alive, through good living; and Your word wey You speak through Your apostle don come true for us, Make una no follow the ways of this world: then the thing wey You add immediately after am go follow too, as You talk say, But make una change as una mind dey become new; no be now according to una own kind, as if una dey follow una neighbour wey go before una, or dey live according to the example of one better person (because You no talk say, “Make human being dey made according to im own kind,” but, Make We make human being for Our own image and likeness), so that we fit find out wetin Your will be. Na for this reason that servant wey You put for charge (wey born children through the Gospel) talk, so that the people wey e must feed with milk and care for like person wey dey nurse pikin no go remain babies forever; make una change (na so e talk) as una mind dey become new, so that una fit find out wetin be the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. Na why You no talk say, “Make human being dey made,” but, Make We make human being. You no still talk say, “according to im own kind”; but, for Our image and likeness. For when person mind don become new, and e dey see and understand Your truth, e no need another person to direct am, as if e must follow im own kind; instead, as You dey direct am, e dey find out wetin be Your good, acceptable and perfect will. Yes, now wey e don get the ability, You dey teach am to understand the Trinity for the Unity, and the Unity for the Trinity. Na why, after the words wey use plural, Make We make human being, the words wey use singular still follow, And God make human being: and after the words wey use plural, For Our likeness, the words wey use singular follow, For the image of God. Na so person dey become new for the knowledge of God, according to the image of the One wey create am: and as e don become spiritual, e dey judge all things (all things wey suppose receive judgment), but no human being dey judge am.
But as e dey judge all things, this one match the authority wey e get over the fish for sea, the birds for air, all cattle and wild animals, the whole earth, and everything wey dey crawl for ground. Na through the understanding for im mind e dey do this, and na through this understanding e dey understand the things of the Spirit of God; otherwise, even though dem put man for position of honour, e no get understanding, and dem compare am to animals wey no get sense, and e don become like dem. So, for Your Church, O our God, according to Your grace wey You don give am (because na You make us, and You create us to do good works), no be only those wey You put as leaders for spiritual matters, but also those wey dey under their spiritual authority,—because na for this way You make man male and female, for Your spiritual grace, where, as body sex concern, male or female no dey, because Jew or Greek no dey, slave or free person no dey.—People wey dey live by the Spirit (whether na leaders or those wey dey obey dem) dey judge by the Spirit; no be that spiritual knowledge wey dey shine for the wide space for sky dem dey judge (because dem no suppose judge authority wey high reach like that), and dem no fit judge Your Book itself, even if something for inside no shine clear; because we dey submit our understanding to am, and we hold am as certain say even wetin our eyes no fit see yet, dem still talk am rightly and truthfully. Because man, even though e don dey live by the Spirit now, and e don become new for the knowledge of God according to the image of the One wey create am, suppose be person wey dey obey the law, no be person wey dey judge am. E no dey judge that difference between people wey dey live by the Spirit and people wey dey live by the flesh, wey Your eyes know, O our God, but wey never show us who dem be through their works, so that we fit know dem by their fruits: but You, Lord, know dem even now, and You don separate dem and call dem for secret, even before You make the wide space for sky. And even though e dey live by the Spirit, e no dey judge the restless people of this world; because wetin concern am to judge those wey dey outside, when e no know which of dem go later enter the sweetness of Your grace, and which ones go remain for the bitterness wey no dey end of life without God?
So man, wey You make for Your own image, no receive authority over the lights for heaven, or over that hidden heaven itself, or over the day and the night, wey You name before You lay the foundation of heaven, or over the waters wey gather together, wey be the sea; but e receive authority over the fish for sea, the birds for air, all cattle, the whole earth, and everything wey dey crawl for ground. Because e dey judge and approve wetin e find say dey right, and e dey reject wetin e find say no correct, whether na for the celebration of those Sacraments wey dem take bring people wey Your mercy dey seek out from many waters into the Church; or for that one where dem dey present that Fish wey dem bring out from the deep water, wey the earth wey dey devoted to You dey feed on; or for the expressions and signs of words wey dey under the authority of Your Book,—signs wey dey come out from mouth and sound out, as if dem dey fly under the wide space for sky, through interpretation, explanation, discussion, argument, consecration, or prayer to You, so that the people fit answer, Amen. Na because of the deep water of this world and the blindness of the flesh, wey no fit see thoughts, dem dey pronounce all these words with voice; so e dey necessary to speak aloud make ears hear; so that, even though birds wey dey fly don plenty for earth, na still from water dem take start. The person wey dey live by the Spirit dey judge too, as e dey approve wetin right and reject wetin e find say no correct, for the works and lives of the faithful; their almsgiving, wey be like earth wey dey produce fruit, and the living soul, wey dey live by bringing im desires under control, for chastity, for fasting, for holy meditation; and those things wey the senses of the body fit notice. Na all these things dem now talk say e dey judge, and na for these things e still get authority to correct.
But wetin be this, and which kind mystery be this? See, You bless human beings, O Lord, so that dem go increase, multiply and fill the earth; no be hint You dey give us through this, make we understand something? Why You no bless the light too, wey You call day; or the sky of heaven, or the lights, or the stars, or the earth, or the sea? I for fit talk say You, O God, wey create create us for Your Image, I for fit talk say na Your good pleasure to give only human beings this blessing; if no be say You bless the fish and the whales for the same way too, make dem increase, multiply and fill the waters of the sea, and make birds multiply for the earth. I for fit talk too say this blessing na especially for creatures wey dey produce their own kind, if I don see say You give am to fruit trees, plants and animals of the earth. But as e be now, You no tell the small plants, or the trees, or the animals, or snakes say, Increase and multiply; even though all of dem, just like fish, birds or human beings, dey increase and continue their kind as dem dey produce young ones.
Wetin I go come talk, O Truth wey be my Light? “Say You just talk am anyhow, and e no get meaning?” No be so, O Papa of devotion; make e far from any minister of Your word to talk like that. And if I no understand wetin You mean by that phrase, make people wey pass me, that is, people wey get more understanding than me, use am better, according to the understanding wey You, my God, don give each person. But make my own confession too please You, as I dey confess to You say I believe, O Lord, say You no talk like that for nothing; and I no go hide wetin this lesson dey bring to my mind. Because e true, and I no see wetin suppose stop me from understanding the figurative sayings for Your Bible like this. Because I know say we fit use many physical expressions to show one thing wey the mind understand for only one way; and the mind fit understand for many ways wetin one physical expression dey show. See, this one love for God and our neighbour, na through how many different sacraments, and languages wey nobody fit count, and for each language, through how many different ways of talking wey nobody fit count, we dey express am for physical form. Na so the offspring of the waters dey increase and multiply. Look again, anybody wey dey read this; see wetin Scripture teach, and wetin voice dey pronounce for only one way: For the Beginning God create heaven and earth; no be many ways people dey understand am, no be through any deception from error, but through different true meanings? Na so human offspring dey increase and multiply.
So, if we consider the nature of the things themselves, no be as symbols of other things, but as dem really be, then the phrase increase and multiply fit all things wey dey come from seed. But if we take the words as figurative words (wey I rather believe say na wetin Scripture intend, because surely e no give this blessing only to the offspring of water animals and human beings for nothing); then we go see say “plenty” concern both spiritual creatures and creatures wey get body, as for heaven and earth; and both righteous and unrighteous people, as for light and darkness; and the holy writers wey don serve us as ministers of the Law, as for the sky wey stand between the waters and the waters; and the community of people wey still dey inside the bitterness of unbelief, as for the sea; and the zeal of holy souls, as for the dry land; and works of mercy wey concern this present life, as for small plants wey dey bear seed and trees wey dey bear fruit; and spiritual gifts wey God give to build people up, as for the lights of heaven; and feelings wey don take shape under self-control, as for the living soul. For all these examples, we dey see plenty, abundance and increase; but things wey fit increase and multiply for such a way that we fit express one thing for many ways, and understand one expression for many ways, we no dey find, except for signs wey people express for physical form, and things wey the mind conceive. By signs wey people pronounce for physical form, we understand the offspring of the waters, wey the depth of the flesh make necessary; by things wey the mind conceive, we understand human offspring, because of how reason dey bear fruit. And na for this purpose we believe say You, Lord, tell these kinds, Increase and multiply. Because for this blessing, I understand say You don give us power and ability, both to express for different ways wetin we understand for only one way; and to understand for different ways wetin we read wey dem present for only one way wey no clear. Na so the waters of the sea dey full, and na only different meanings dey move them: na so too the earth dey full through human increase; the dryness of the earth dey show for the way e dey long for something, and reason dey rule over am.
I go still talk, O Lord my God, wetin this Scripture wey follow dey remind me of; yes, I go talk am, and I no go fear. Because I go talk the truth, as You Yourself dey inspire me with wetin You want make I bring out from those words. But I no believe say I dey talk truth through any inspiration apart from Your own, because na You be the Truth, and every human being na liar. So person wey dey tell lie dey talk from wetin come from im own self; therefore, so that I fit talk truth, I go talk from wetin come from You. See, You don give us as food every plant wey dey bear seed for the whole earth, and every tree wey get fruit wey dey bear seed. And no be only us You give dem to, but also all the birds for sky, the animals for earth, and everything wey dey crawl; but You no give dem to the fish and the big-big whale dem. Now, we don talk say these fruits of the earth stand for, and serve as picture for, the works of mercy wey people dey use wetin the fruitful earth produce to provide the things wey people need for this life. Na this kind earth the devout Onesiphorus be; You show mercy to im household because e often give Your Paul new strength, and e no shame because of the chain wey dem use bind Paul. Na so the brothers do too, and na this kind fruit dem bear, when dem send from Macedonia wetin Paul lack. But e really sorrow because of some trees wey no give am the fruit wey dem suppose give am, for where e talk say, When I first stand to defend myself, nobody stand by me, but everybody abandon me. I pray God make E no hold this sin against dem. Because these fruits na wetin dem suppose give people wey dey teach us spiritual teaching from their understanding of God’s mysteries; dem suppose give dem these fruits as human beings; yes, dem suppose give dem too as the living soul wey dey set example by keeping all im desires under control; and dem suppose give dem too as creatures wey dey fly, because of their blessings wey dey multiply for earth, since their voice don reach every land.
But na the people wey dey get joy from these fruits dey receive nourishment from dem; no be people wey their belle na their god dey get this joy from dem. Because even for the people wey dey give, no be the things wey dem give be the fruit, but na the mind wey dem take give dem. So, for that man wey serve God and no be im own belle, I see clearly why e rejoice; I see am, and I rejoice with am. Because e don receive from the Philippians wetin dem send give am through Epaphroditus; still, I understand why e rejoice. Because na the thing wey make am rejoice e take feed; for, as e dey talk truth, e say, I rejoice well-well for the Lord, because now at last, the care wey una get for me don begin flourish again; una been dey show this care before too, but e don tire una. So these Philippians don dry up because of the tiredness wey last long, and dem be like plant wey don wither as e concern bearing this fruit of good work; and e rejoice because of dem, because dem don begin flourish again, no be because of im own self, because dem provide wetin e need. So e add say, No be because I lack something I dey talk, because I don learn to dey content for any condition wey I find myself. I sabi how to live when I get little, and I sabi how to live when I get plenty; for everywhere and for everything, I don learn how to belleful and how to hungry; how to get plenty and how to suffer need. I fit do everything through the One wey dey give me strength.
Then wetin dey make you rejoice, O great Paul? Wetin dey make you rejoice? Wetin you dey feed on, O man wey don become new through the knowledge of God, according to the image of the One wey create you, you living soul wey dey hold your desires well-well under control, you tongue wey be like birds wey dey fly, wey dey speak mysteries? (Because na this kind creatures dem suppose give this food to;) wetin dey feed you? Na joy. Make we hear wetin follow: Still, una do well as una share for my suffering. Na this one dey make am rejoice, na this one e dey feed on: because dem do well, no be because im hardship reduce, as na im talk to You say, You give me room when I dey for distress; because e know how to get plenty and how to suffer need, through You wey dey give am strength. Because una Philippians too know, e talk say, for the beginning of the Gospel, when I leave Macedonia, no Church join me for the matter of giving and receiving, except only una. Because even when I dey Thessalonica, una send wetin I need more than once. Na because dem don return to these good works e dey rejoice now; and e glad say dem don begin flourish again, like when field wey dey bear fruit become green again.
Na because of im own need, as e talk say, Una send help for wetin I need? Na wetin make am rejoice be that? True-true, no be because of that. But how we take know this? Na because e imself talk immediately say, No be say I dey look for gift, but na fruit I dey look for. I don learn from You, my God, to know the difference between gift and fruit. Gift na the thing itself wey the person wey dey provide wetin we need give us; like money, food, drink, cloth, shelter, help: but fruit na the good and right intention wey the giver get. Because the Good Master no only talk say, Person wey welcome prophet, but E add say, because na prophet e be: E no only talk say, Person wey welcome righteous person, but E add say, because na righteous person e be. So true-true, the first person go receive prophet reward, and the other person go receive righteous person reward: E no only talk say, Person wey give one of My little ones one cup of cold water to drink; but E add say, because na disciple e be: and so E end am say, True-true I dey tell una, e no go lose im reward. The gift na to welcome prophet, to welcome righteous person, to give disciple one cup of cold water: but the fruit na to do this because the person na prophet, because the person na righteous person, because the person na disciple. The widow wey give Elijah food give am with fruit, because e know say na man of God e dey feed, and na because of that e feed am: but the raven give am food as gift. And that one no feed Elijah inner person, na only im body; and that body fit don perish too if e no get that food.
So I go talk wetin be true for Your eye, O Lord: when people wey dey follow desire of the flesh and people wey no believe take am upon themselves to provide food for Your servant body, or help am in another way with something wey go useful for this present life, but dem no know why dem suppose do am or the purpose wey e suppose serve, dem no truly feed Your servants, and Your servants no receive true nourishment from dem. To win these people and bring dem enter Christian life, the Sacrament dem for initiation and the mighty works of miracle dey necessary; and we suppose say na these people the names fish and whale dey represent. The reason na say those givers no do am with holy and right intention; and Your servants no rejoice for their gifts, because dem never see the fruit of those gifts. Because na wetin mind dey rejoice for dey feed the mind. And so, fish dem and whale dem no dey feed on this kind food, wey the earth no produce until after You don separate and divide am from the bitterness of the sea waves.
And You, O God, see everything wey You don make, and see, e good well-well. Yes, we too dey see the same thing, and see, everything good well-well. For the different kinds of Your works, when You talk say, “Make dem dey,” and dem come dey, You see say each one good. I don count seven times wey dem write say You see say wetin You make good: and this na the eighth, say You see everything wey You don make, and see, no be only good e good, but e good well-well, as all of dem don dey together now. Because one by one, dem just good; but together, dem good, and dem good well-well. All beautiful bodies dey show this same thing; because body wey all im parts beautiful dey far more beautiful than those same parts when each one stand alone. Na the way the parts join together in proper order dey make the whole body complete; even though each part still beautiful on im own.
And I look well to find out whether na seven or eight times You see say Your works good, when dem please You; but for Your seeing, I no find any passage of time wey go make me understand say You see wetin You make so many times. And I talk say, “Lord, no be true this Your Scripture be, since You na true, and na You, wey be Truth, give am to us? Why then You dey tell me say, ‘for Your seeing, time no dey’; when this Your Scripture dey tell me say, wetin You make each day, You see say e good: and when I count dem, I find how many times e happen.” Na this You answer me, because You na my God, and with strong voice You dey tell Your servant for im inner ear, as You break through my deafness and cry out say, “O human being, wetin My Scripture talk, na Me talk am: and yet, e dey speak inside time; but time no get anything to do with My Word, because My Word dey for the same eternity as Me. So wetin una dey see through My Spirit, na Me dey see am; just as wetin una dey talk through My Spirit, na Me dey talk am. And so, when una see those things inside time, My own seeing no dey inside time; just as when una talk inside time, My own speaking no dey inside time.”
And I hear, O Lord my God, and I drink one drop of sweetness from Your truth, and I understand say some people dey wey no like Your works. Dem dey talk say na because necessity force You, You make many of them, like the way heaven take dey together and the way the stars take dey work together well; and say You no make them from wetin be Your own, but say dem create them for another place and from other sources, for You to gather them, press them together and join them, when You use Your enemies wey You don defeat build the walls of the universe, so that as the structure hold dem down, dem no go fit rebel against You again. As for other things, dem dey talk say You no make them, and You no even join them together, like all beings wey get flesh, all creatures wey small well-well, and anything wey get root for ground. Instead, dem say na one mind wey dey against You, and another nature wey You no create and wey oppose You, bring these things into being and form them for these lower parts of the world. People wey dey talk like this dey craze, because dem no dey see Your works through Your Spirit, and dem no recognise You inside them.
But those wey dey see these things through Your Spirit, na You dey see inside dem. So when dem see say these things good, na You dey see say dem good; and anything wey please dem because of You, na You dey please dem inside am; and the things wey please us through Your Spirit dey please You inside us. For who know wetin dey inside person, except the spirit of that person wey dey inside am? Na so too nobody know the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we (as e talk) don receive, no be the spirit of this world, but the Spirit wey come from God, so that we go fit know the things wey God freely give us. And I receive this warning: “Truly, nobody know the things of God except the Spirit of God: how then we too take know the things wey God give us?” Dem answer me: “Because even these things wey we know through His Spirit, nobody know them except the Spirit of God. For just as dem rightly tell those wey go speak through the Spirit of God say, no be una dey speak, na so dem rightly tell those wey know through the Spirit of God say, ‘No be una dey know.’ And na so too dem rightly tell those wey see through the Spirit of God say, ‘No be una dey see’; so anything wey dem see through the Spirit of God say e good, no be dem, but na God dey see say e good.” So, na one thing for person to think say wetin good na bad, as those people wey I mention before dey do; na another thing for person to see say wetin good truly good (just as Your creatures dey please many people because dem good, but You no dey please dem inside these creatures, when dem prefer to enjoy the creatures instead of You); and na still another thing when person see say something good, for God to see inside that person say e good. This one mean say dem go love God inside wetin E make, and nobody fit love Am except through the Holy Spirit wey E don give us. Because the Holy Spirit wey God give us don pour the love of God into our hearts; na through Am we dey see say anything wey dey exist, for any level at all, good. For na from God e come, and God Himself no dey exist for one level or another, but wetin E Be, na wetin E Be.
We thank You, O Lord. We dey see heaven and earth, whether na the physical part wey dey above and below, or the spiritual and physical creatures; and as You arrange and beautify these parts wey the whole world, or rather the whole creation, consist of, we see light wey You make and separate from darkness. We see the firmament of heaven, whether na that first physical body of the world, wey dey between the spiritual waters above and the physical waters below, or (since dem still dey call this one heaven) this open air where birds of heaven dey fly, between the waters wey rise as vapour above them and come down as dew for clear nights, and those heavier waters wey dey flow along the earth. We see waters wey gather together for the wide spaces of the sea; and dry land wey first dey empty, wey You give shape so that e fit show and everything fit arrange well together, and even the material wey grass and trees come from. We see the lights wey dey shine from above: the sun to give the day the light wey e need, and the moon and stars to brighten the night; and all these ones go mark and show times. We see water all around, full of fish, animals and birds; because the air wey dey carry birds as dem dey fly dey become thick through the vapour wey rise from the waters. We see the surface of the earth wey You decorate with creatures wey dey live for land, and human being, wey You create for Your image and likeness, and wey You put over all creatures wey no get power to reason, through that same image and likeness of Yours (that is, the power to reason and understand). And just as one power for im soul dey rule by giving direction, while another dey under am so that e go obey, na so You still make woman for the man for bodily life. For her mind and her power to reason and understand, she suppose get the same nature with am; but as her body be female, she suppose dey under her husband as male in the same way, just as the desire to act dey willing to learn how to act rightly from the reasoning of the mind. Na these things we dey see, and each one good, and all of them together good well-well.
Make the things wey You make praise You, so that we go love You; and make we love You, so that the things wey You make go praise You. These things get beginning and ending inside time, rising and setting, growth and decay, form and lack of form. So dem get their morning and evening wey dey follow one another, some for hidden way, some for way wey eye fit see; because na You make them from nothing, no be from Your own being; no be from any material wey no belong to You, or wey don dey before, but from material wey You create together with them (that is, wey You create at the same time), because You give am form when e no get form, without any time passing in between. Since the material of heaven and earth na one thing, and the form na another thing, You make the material from absolutely nothing, but You make the form of the world from the material wey no get form: still, You make both together, so that the form go follow the material without any delay in between.
We don also examine wetin You want make creation, or the way things relate to one another for this kind order, show us like shadow. And we don see say each thing on im own good, and all of them together good well-well, inside Your Word, Your Only-Begotten Son: both heaven and earth, the Head and the body of the Church, as You don arrange them before all time begin, without morning or evening. But when You begin carry out inside time the things wey You don arrange beforehand, na so You reveal things wey hide and put our disordered ways right; because our sins hang over us, and we don sink inside the dark deep; and Your good Spirit dey move over us, to help us when the right time reach; and You make people wey no dey honour You righteous, and separate them from wicked people; and You make the firmament of the authority of Your Book stand between those wey You place above, wey suppose ready to learn from You, and those wey dey under, wey suppose submit to them. And You gather the community of unbelievers together for one conspiracy, so that the zeal of the faithful go show, and dem go do works of mercy, even share their earthly riches give poor people, so that dem go gain heavenly riches. After this, You light some lights for the firmament: Your holy ones, wey get the word of life, and wey dey shine with great authority wey spiritual gifts don lift high. After that again, to bring the Gentiles wey no believe into the faith, You use physical things make the Sacraments, miracles wey eye fit see, and forms of words wey agree with the firmament of Your Book, so that through them the faithful go receive blessing and increase in number. Next, You form the living soul of the faithful, through desires wey the strength of self-control don put for proper order. After that, You renew the mind according to Your image and likeness—the mind wey submit to You alone and no need imitate any human authority; and You make the things wey e dey do with reason submit to the excellence of understanding, as woman submit to man. And for all the offices of Your ministry wey the faithful need to become perfect for this life, You want make the same faithful provide good things for their needs for this world, things wey go bear fruit for the faithful themselves for time wey dey come. We see all these things, and dem good well-well, because You dey see them inside us; na You give us Your Spirit, so that through Your Spirit we fit see them, and love You inside them.
O Lord God, give us peace: (because You don give us everything;) the peace of rest, the peace of the Sabbath wey no get evening. Because all these things wey good well-well and wey You arrange so beautifully go pass away when dem don finish their course, because dem get morning and evening.
But the seventh day no get evening, and im sun no dey set; because You don make am holy to last forever. So, wetin You do after Your works wey good well-well—how You rest on the seventh day, even though You make all of them without anything interrupting Your rest—make the voice of Your Book announce am to us beforehand: say we too, after our works (wey good well-well because na You give us them), go rest inside You for the Sabbath of eternal life.
Because then You go rest inside us, just as You dey work inside us now; and so, that one go be Your rest through us, just as these ones na Your works through us. But You, Lord, dey work always, and You dey rest always. Your seeing no dey happen inside time, nothing dey move You inside time, and Your rest no dey happen for any particular time; yet You dey make the things wey people dey see inside time, even time itself, and the rest wey follow after time.
So, we dey see these things wey You make because dem dey exist; but dem dey exist because You dey see them. With our outward sight, we see say dem dey exist, and with our inward sight, we see say dem good. But for the same place wey You see them before You make them, na there You see them when You don make them. And later, something move us to do good, after our hearts don receive new life from Your Spirit; but before that time, we turn away from You and allow wetin move us lead us to do evil. But You, the One, the Good God, no ever stop to do good. We too get some good works as gift from You, but dem no be eternal; after them, we trust say we go rest as You make us holy in Your great holiness. But You, wey be the Good wey no need any other good, dey rest always, because Your rest na You Yourself. And which person fit teach another person to understand this? Or which Angel fit teach another Angel? Or which Angel fit teach person? Make we ask You for am, seek am inside You, and knock for Your door to get am; na so, na so we go receive am, na so we go find am, na so dem go open the door for us. Amen.
LORD, THANK YOU